Batistaki and fellow Greek colleagues at the University of Athens reviewed the clinical course of 35 patients who had received a procedure involving thermocoagulation of their splanchnic nerves via radiofrequency – for pain relief related to pancreatic cancer (ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas).

These were patients who had advanced pancreatic cancer, and whose pain was refractory to conservative pain management. In pre and post procedure evaluations – the researchers found that pain tended to be relieved, quality of life improved, and opioid drug use was diminished for the patients.

The authors recommend the procedure for persistent pain in pancreatic cancer.